Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Introduction
- What is ADHD?
- How do you get ADHD?
- What are the symptoms?
- How is it diagnosed?
- What is the expected outcome?
- Will anyone else in the family get ADHD?
- What is the treatment?
- How will my family’s life be changed?
- I don't want to get my child addicted to drugs by starting him on stimulants.
- I have heard that stimulants are associated with heart problems. Is there another safer remedy such as a diet that will help my child?
- How long will my child need to be on medication?
- I've heard about medication holidays. What does that mean?
- What are side effects of stimulant medications?
- Will my child be shorter if he takes stimulants?
- Why doesn’t my insurance cover behavior therapy for ADHD?
- Resources
Introduction
What is ADHD?
How do you get ADHD?
What are the symptoms?
How is it diagnosed?
What is the expected outcome?
Will anyone else in the family get ADHD?
What is the treatment?
How will my family’s life be changed?
I don't want to get my child addicted to drugs by starting him on stimulants.
I have heard that stimulants are associated with heart problems. Is there another safer remedy such as a diet that will help my child?
How long will my child need to be on medication?
I've heard about medication holidays. What does that mean?
What are side effects of stimulant medications?
Will my child be shorter if he takes stimulants?
Why doesn’t my insurance cover behavior therapy for ADHD?
Resources
Information & Support
For Parents and Patients
Support
Children & Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
A national nonprofit organization with numerous local chapters that provides education, advocacy, and support for ADHD. Includes
ADHD-focused e-learning trainings for parents and teachers, information, advocacy, and support, podcasts, newsletters, and
more.
Understood for Learning & Attention Issues
An organization providing resources to young adults, parents, and teachers of children with different learning styles and
attention disorders. Focusses on an initiative to create inclusive workplaces by developing and implementing best-in-class
disability inclusion programs so they can hire, advance, and retain people with disabilities.
General
ADHD (MedlinePlus)
Information for families that includes description, frequency, causes, inheritance, other names, and additional resources;
from the National Library of Medicine.
What is ADHD? (KidsHealth)
Health information for parents, kids, and teens. This is the parent's page on ADHD, see the tabs at the top for the pages
focused on kids and teens; sponsored by Nemours Foundation.
The Diet Factor in ADHD (AAP)
A comprehensive overview of the role of dietary methods for treatment of children with ADHD when pharmacotherapy has proven
unsatisfactory or unacceptable; American Academy of Pediatrics.
ADHD Information (AAP)
List of publications for parents of children with ADHD; American Academy of Pediatrics.
Patient Education
Books for Children:
- Otto Learns about His Medicine: A Story About Medication for Children With ADHD [Galvin: 2001]
- Being in Control: Natural Techniques for Increasing Your Potential and Creativity for Success in School [Alster: 2001]
- Eagle Eyes: A Child's Guide to Paying Attention (The Coping Series) [Gehret: 2009]
- Jumpin' Johnny Get Back to Work: A Child's Guide to Adhd-Hyperactivity [Gordon: 1993]
- Shelley, the Hyperactive Turtle [Moss: 1989]
- Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention [Nadeau: 2004]
- Putting on the Brakes: Understanding and Taking Control of Your ADD or ADHD [Quinn: 2009]
- Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book About Living with ADHD [Kraus: 2004]
- The Adventures of Phoebe Flower: Stories of a Girl with ADHD [Roberts: 2010]
- The Survival Guide for Kids with ADHD [Taylor: 2012]
Books for Parents:
- Smart but Scattered [Dawson: 2009]
- ADHD: What Every Parent Needs to Know (2nd ed.) [Reiff: 2011]
- Taking Charge of ADHD (3rd ed.) [Barkley: 2013]
- You and Your A.D.D. Child: How to Understand and Help Kids With Attention Deficit Disorder [Warren: 1995]
ADHD Information (NIMH)
Overview and links to more information from the National Institute of Mental Health
ADHD: Parents' Medication Guide (AACAP) ( 1.1 MB)
Forty-five page booklet that helps youngsters and their families better understand the treatments for ADHD; prepared by the
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and American Psychiatric Association (2013).
Services for Patients & Families in Utah (UT)
Service Categories | # of providers* in: | UT | NW | Other states (5) (show) | | ID | MT | NM | NV | RI |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHIP, State Children's Health Insur Prog | 5 | 1 | 21 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 1 | |||
Developmental - Behavioral Pediatrics | 8 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 11 | |||
Family Counseling | 74 | 66 | 19 | 231 | 22 | 19 | ||||
Financial Assistance, Other | 38 | 12 | 109 | 46 | 140 | 48 | 20 | |||
General Counseling Services | 440 | 1 | 201 | 146 | 96 | 174 | 33 | |||
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy | 57 | 3 | 21 | 4 | 44 | 20 | 6 | |||
Medicaid | 15 | 1 | 62 | 4 | 169 | 38 | 4 | |||
Medical Care Expense Assistance | 73 | 38 | 68 | 39 | 272 | 70 | 43 | |||
Neuropsychiatry/Neuropsychology | 11 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | |||||
Outpatient Mental Health Care | 315 | 18 | 15 | 76 | 69 | 10 | ||||
Pediatric Cardiology | 6 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 31 | 5 | 17 | |||
Pediatric Neurology | 6 | 1 | 16 | 31 | 6 | 15 | ||||
Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs | 55 | 30 | 47 | 38 | 81 | 50 | 34 | |||
Psychiatry/Medication Management | 64 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 41 | 79 | ||||
School Districts | 54 | 116 | 120 | 21 | 48 |
For services not listed above, browse our Services categories or search our database.
* number of provider listings may vary by how states categorize services, whether providers are listed by organization or individual, how services are organized in the state, and other factors; Nationwide (NW) providers are generally limited to web-based services, provider locator services, and organizations that serve children from across the nation.
Studies
Clinical Trials in ADHD (clinicaltrials.gov)
Studies looking at better understanding, diagnosing, and treating this condition; from the National Library of Medicine.
Mental Health Clinical Trials (NIMH)
Links to descriptions of clinical trials related to numerous mental health conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, and depression;
National Institute of Mental Health.
Page Bibliography
Alster JM.
Being in Control: Natural Techniques for Increasing Your Potential and Creativity for Success in School (Paperback).
Rainbow Cloud;
2001.
9659025114
Barkley R.
Taking Charge of ADHD .
Third Edition ed. The Guilford Press;
2013.
978-1462507894 http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Charge-ADHD-Third-Authoritative/dp/146250...
Dawson P.
Smart but scattered.
Guilford Press;
2009.
978-1593854454 http://www.amazon.com/Smart-but-Scattered-Revolutionary-Executive/dp/1...
Galvin M.
Otto Learns About His Medicine: A Story About Medication for Children With ADHD.
3rd ed. Washington DC: Magination Press;
2001.
1557987726 http://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/4417726.aspx
Otto, a fidgety young car, has trouble paying attention in school, has trouble remembering important information, and is unable
to listen long enough to learn how to drive. Otto and his parents visit a special mechanic who explains about "car medicine"
that can help him control his behavior. This delightful story addresses the concerns felt by children who have been prescribed
drugs to reduce hyperactive behavior.
Gehret Jeanne, LaDuca Michael.
Eagle Eyes: A Child's Guide to Paying Attention (The Coping Series) (Hardcover).
Revised ed. Verbal Images Press;
2009.
Gordon M.
Jumpin' Johnny Get Back to Work: A Child's Guide to Adhd-Hyperactivity (Paperback).
Gsi Publications;
1993.
9780962770142
Harstad EB, Weaver AL, Katusic SK, Colligan RC, Kumar S, Chan E, Voigt RG, Barbaresi WJ.
ADHD, stimulant treatment, and growth: a longitudinal study.
Pediatrics.
2014;134(4):e935-44.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
Klassen AF, Miller A, Fine S.
Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents who have a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Pediatrics.
2004;114(5):e541-7.
PubMed abstract
Kraus J.
Cory stories: a kid's book about living with Adhd.
Magination Press;
2004.
978-1591471547 http://www.amazon.com/Cory-Stories-Kids-About-Living/dp/1591471540
Moss DM.
Shelley, the Hyperactive Turtle (Special Needs Collection) (Hardcover).
Woodbine House;
1989.
9780933149311
Nadeau K.
Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention.
3rd ed. Magination Press;
2004.
978-1591471554 http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Slow-Down-Pay-Attention/dp/1591471559
Pliszka S.
Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry.
2007;46(7):894-921.
PubMed abstract
Historical ADHD guideline from 2007.
Quinn PO, Stern JM, Lee J.
Putting on the Brakes: Understanding and Taking Control of Your ADD or ADHD.
2nd Edition ed. Magination Press;
2009.
978-1-4338-0441-0
Reiff M.
ADHD: What Every Parent Needs to Know .
2nd ed. American Academy of Pediatrics;
2011.
978-1581104516 http://www.amazon.com/ADHD-What-Every-Parent-Needs/dp/1581104510
Riordan R.
Percy jackson and the olympians.
Disney-Hyperion;
2014.
978-1484707234 http://www.amazon.com/Jackson-Olympians-Paperback-covers-poster/dp/148...
Roberts B.
The adventures of phoebe flower: stories of a girl with Adhd.
Advantage Books;
2010.
978-0971460966 http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Phoebe-Flower-Stories-Girl/dp/0971460...
Shaw M, Hodgkins P, Caci H, Young S, Kahle J, Woods AG, Arnold LE.
A systematic review and analysis of long-term outcomes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: effects of treatment and
non-treatment.
BMC Med.
2012;10:99.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
Taylor J.
Survival guide for kids with Adhd .
ReadHowYouWant;
2012.
978-1442996823 http://www.amazon.com/The-Survival-Guide-Kids-ADHD/dp/144299682X
Troksa K, Kovacich N, Moro M, Chavez B.
Impact of Central Nervous System Stimulant Medication Use on Growth in Pediatric Populations with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder: A Review.
Pharmacotherapy.
2019;39(6):665-676.
PubMed abstract
This article review the newer data surrounding the effects of central nervous system stimulants on growth parameters in children
with ADHD.
Warren P, Capeheart J.
You and Your A.D.D. Child: How to Understand and Help Kids With Attention Deficit Disorder (Paperback).
Nelson Books;
1995.
0785278958
Wilens TE, Adamson J, Monuteaux MC, Faraone SV, Schillinger M, Westerberg D, Biederman J.
Effect of prior stimulant treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on subsequent risk for cigarette smoking
and alcohol and drug use disorders in adolescents.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.
2008;162(10):916-21.
PubMed abstract / Full Text
Wolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, Chan E, Davison D, Earls M, Evans SW, Flinn SK, Froehlich T, Frost J, Holbrook JR, Lehmann
CU, Lessin HR, Okechukwu K, Pierce KL, Winner JD, Zurhellen W.
Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children
and Adolescents.
Pediatrics.
2019;144(4).
PubMed abstract / Full Text
This guideline revision provides incremental updates to the 2011 guideline on ADHD, including the addition of a key action
statement related to diagnosis and treatment of comorbid conditions in children and adolescents with ADHD. The accompanying
process of care algorithm has also been updated to assist in implementing the guideline recommendations; American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP).